Sporran chain/strap/hanger ?

[D McD]

Greetings, all

I've done some reading on other threads here about chains vs straps, and it seems both are "acceptable" but straps are lighter and easier on kilt fabric than possibly a chain with maybe sharp edges.

But how about the hangers that I've seen on Amazon and elsewhere that loop around the belt and have short pieces to connect to the sporran from one's belt front.

Has anyone experimented with those? Good or bad? Fashion faux pas or acceptable?

Many thanks for any advice available

David.

[OC Richard]

They're a practical idea, and in a way go back to early sporrans which sometimes are worn high enough to look like they're suspended from a waist-belt.



But for us Traditional Highland Dress guys the problem is that these modern "hangers" didn't exist until recently.

It's another example of TCHD experimenting; who knows if they will take hold, or eventually be rejected by the tradition and fall out of use.

[Liam]

I use sporran hangers exclusively. For MOS (men of substance) they are more flattering.

[D McD]

I decided to get a set of sporran hangers. They're only $11 or $12 on Amazon, so there seems no great financial risk, and it seems both responses so far have been neutral or positive, so why not.

[imbrius]

I'm neither here nor there on them. If you're going for Traditional but not Historical or Contemporary, I'd be hard-pressed to say they fit. But if they end up looking less incongruous on you than a strap or chain, it may be a better overall option to look smarter, which I think is very traditional. Just an opinion.

[DustyBoots]

I use a set of hangers almost exclusively. They more than fit the bill for casual and up through "smart day wear" as the phrase goes around here. I've even used them for evening wear. They look fine and disappear when hung on a jeans/pants belt under a vest (if the vest covers the belt) so to the eye you aren't breaking the vest/waistcoat and belt rule. If I'm going more formal I use a high quality chain with no burrs, but I'm moving to leather sporran straps as soon as I can.

As previously stated, if you've got a bit of a mid section they're much more flattering than a chain.

[D McD]

Imbrius touches on an issue that I'm struggling to come up with a clear cogent approach towards.

As best I can tell, there is no such as thing as any clear consensus on what constitutes "traditional" or "historical" kilt wearing practice, and with a wide spread of contemporary styles, that's an amorphous term too.

The truth that some choose to obscure (or simply fail to appreciate) is that much/most of the concept of what we today know of as a kilt is a relatively modern construct, created from little or nothing as part of the early Victorian era's rediscovery of Scotland and desire to give it more mystery, heft and substance and to create elaborate rules and codes so as to provide a way of separating upper/middle/lower class in the new unfamiliar milieu of Scotland.

This is even more so true of tartan, and the totally invented notion of associating specific tartans with specific clans. It was perhaps the most brilliant bit of marketing in the 19th century, creating "brands" in an era before brands were even a thing.

I think that for most of us, these days, kilt choices and approaches boil down to first of all, things which clearly don't contravene fairly universal "rules" (such as which side the skirt front opens); and secondly, things which are most comfortable/convenient/functional. A weak third is things that don't make us laughed at.

My own "journey" into the wonderful world of kilts started with an intense desire to get things "right", but as I've dived ever deeper into the subject, I'm starting to realize that the concept of "right" does indeed deserve the scare quotes around it. In particular, I've very much appreciate the excellent commentary by Steve Ashton on the Kilt Kops which has relieved me of any remaining burden of concern.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f99/kilt-kops-68828/

Now, having said that, two final comments.

First, this was not intended as a disagreement with Imbrius at all. His comments are very helpful indeed and while there are few "wrongs" with kilt wearing, it is very helpful to understand what a particular style might be classified as and how generally acceptable it is. Thank you.

Second, I'm still a bit anxious when I first start walking around the central city area in (especially) Glasgow or somewhere far up in the Highlands, wanting to be sure I don't make an utter total fool of myself! I'm now the proud owner of a $20 eBay kilt ex Pakistan, not sure if it will withstand the withering scrutiny of Glaswegians!

David.

I'm neither here nor there on them. If you're going for Traditional but not Historical or Contemporary, I'd be hard-pressed to say they fit. But if they end up looking less incongruous on you than a strap or chain, it may be a better overall option to look smarter, which I think is very traditional. Just an opinion.